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After fully absorbing the Phoenix power from the pills, Bai Chenxiang exclaimed with excitement, "Grandfather, I did it! I finally have offensive strength!"
"Quickly thank His Highness the Crown Prince!" an attendant prompted.
"Yes—thank you, Your Highness! I'll never forget your kindness!" Bai Chenxiang beamed, her large, doe-like eyes shining with admiration for Dai Weisi.
Watching this adorable girl, Dai Weisi found himself growing more fond of her by the moment. He had always liked her character when reading the original story. Yet beneath that fondness lay a pang of sorrow—he remembered how, in the original timeline, Bai Chenxiang ended up following Ma Hongjun to the brothel and died old and alone on Douluo Continent.
Whenever he thought of her tragic fate, he muttered under his breath, "Tang San, you hypocrite! You could reunite Hu Liahua's mother with Hu's soul in the Spirit Realm, but you couldn't save your own cousin?"
But now that he was here, Dai Weisi vowed she would not die forgotten on Douluo Continent.
Nearby, Zhu Zhuyun noticed Dai Weisi staring so intently at Bai Chenxiang that she teased, "Am I going to get another little sister?" With that, she reached over and pinched his lower back.
Dai Weisi yelped in pain and turned to see Zhu Zhuyun glaring at him fiercely—yet her angry expression softened when he smiled sheepishly and slipped an arm around her slender waist.
Over the years, Dai Weisi had grown to regard Zhu Zhuyun as the most important woman in his life. Not even Qian Renxue's presence here could shake that.
Satisfied, Zhu Zhuyun released her grip, and Dai Weisi turned back to Bai Chenxiang.
"Senior Bai," he said, "we still have seven more pills. They can grant attack power to seven Feathered Swift Swallow spirit masters. If I ever acquire another batch of Phoenix Crest Holly, I'll ask Senior Yang to refine more pills for your tribe!"
Although all the Holly had been used in pill refinement, Dai Weisi had preserved the roots and stems. In time, he could cultivate new Holly in the Ice-and-Fire Two-Eyed Lake. Even if it took centuries or millennia, he wasn't worried—Anna, Minister of Agriculture, could accelerate the plant's maturation by injecting it with concentrated plant essence. What once took centuries might take only a decade or two.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Bai He replied with a smile. "With these seven pills, seven of our tribe can evolve their spirit, and their descendants will awaken the Lingbo Feiyan spirit."
After further discussion, Bai He departed for the Minzhi Tribe, relocating its members to Star Luo City. As for Bai Chenxiang, Bai He left her behind to study under Dai Weisi's tutelage. With such a charming companion by his side, how could Dai Weisi refuse? He laughed and said:
"Chenxiang, train hard. When your soul power reaches level twenty, Brother will take you to obtain your soul rings."
"Heehee, thank you, Brother!" Bai Chenxiang's face glowed with joy at the prospect.
It's worth noting that despite her spirit's evolution, Bai Chenxiang's soul power remained at level sixteen—she had only absorbed part of the Phoenix power, not the full effect of the pills. Thus her spirit evolved from Feathered Swift Swallow to Lingbo Feiyan, but her soul power did not increase.
Dai Weisi chuckled. "Well, since you're calling me Brother, I can't show no generosity." He produced the final Ninth-Grade Azure Spirit Pill and handed it to Bai Chenxiang.
"This pill is for you. It will rapidly boost your soul power and speed up your cultivation."
Originally, Dai Weisi planned to take it himself—but having already consumed five Spirit Herbs, another potent pill would trigger resistance in his body, reducing its effectiveness. It made more sense to gift it to Bai Chenxiang, allowing her to benefit fully.
"Ah? Brother…" she began, hesitant.
"Don't be polite," Dai Weisi replied. "I have plenty more where that came from. Just take it."
"Cluck, cluck—thank you, Brother!" Bai Chenxiang immediately swallowed the pill without another word, then quietly began to refine its power.
While she was concentrating, Dai Weisi turned to Yang Wudi. "Send a few of our people to court the Strength Tribe and the Defense Tribe," he instructed.
The Strength Tribe's chieftain, Titan, was a staunch follower of Tang Hao—winning him over would be difficult. Still, Dai Weisi believed it was worth the attempt: what if they succeeded? As for the Defense Tribe, they were based in Longxing City within the Star Luo Empire, and since both the Minzhi Tribe and the Po Tribe were already under his influence, bringing them in should be straightforward.
…
In the Martial Soul City, inside the Pope's Pavilion:
Bibi Dong's brow furrowed fiercely; her majestic gaze alone struck terror into Bishop Wulick below. His knees trembled as he imagined the wrath of the "Queen of Souls" flattening him in an instant.
When Wulick reported the Empire's demands, Bibi Dong slammed her hand down on the throne armrest.
Slap!
"Hmph! The Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire has quite the appetite—four pieces of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bones? Who does he think he is, to make such demands?"
Her voice dripped with frost. If Dai Weisi had been standing before her, she'd have slapped him dead on the spot! Bibi Dong made no mention of the forty million soul coins—small change to the Martial Soul Hall—but four Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bones represented a significant loss.
Bishop Wulick swallowed hard and stammered, "Your Holiness… the Crown Prince said that if we don't deliver the four soul bones within a month, then… then—"
"Then what? Spit it out!"
"He said… he would execute Elder Ju by beheading, for all to see how a titled Douluo is put to death."
"Outrageous!!!"
Bibi Dong exploded in fury. To ordinary people and low-ranked soul masters alike, titled Douluos were akin to gods. Dai Weisi's open threat to execute one was a direct challenge to the Hall's authority—and a personal insult to her.
By threatening to publicly execute a titled Douluo, he was effectively saying, "If I can kill a Martial Soul Hall elder today, I can kill the Pope tomorrow!"
When Ghost Child pleaded, "Your Holiness, please spare Elder Ju!" Bibi Dong's anger wavered.
"Teacher, I beg you too!" added the eight-tailed fox Hu Liena, pressing Moon Pass for mercy. Within the Martial Soul Hall, Moon Pass had always treated her kindly.
Seeing both petitions, Bibi Dong's heart softened. She drew a deep breath, preparing to consider their pleas…
(End of Chapter)